April 9, 2010

The 24th-ranked University of New Mexico women's golf team is in a tie for fourth place after the first round of the PING/ASU Invitational. UNM shot a 3-over 291 on the par-72, 6,230-yard Karsten Golf Course in Tempe, Ariz.

The Lobos, who started their round on No. 10, are tied with top-ranked UCLA, No. 5 Alabama and 21st-ranked Denver. New Mexico is ahead of four teams ranked higher in the most recent Golfstat.com poll: No. 7 Arizona, No. 9 Pepperdine, No. 13 Stanford and No. 14 California.

Third-ranked and host Arizona State has the team lead at 9-under 279, two shots better than No. 6 Southern California (281).

The 17-team field has 12 schools that were ranked in the top-30 of the March 31 Golfstat.com poll.

Second round action begins Saturday at 9 a.m. MDT. Live stats are available at GolfStat.com.

Lobo sophomore Rebecca Hellbom shot a 1-under 71 for her low round of the spring season. She is three shots back of the lead held by Arizona State's Carlota Ciganda and Tulsa's Kristina Merkle, who shot 4-under 68.

Senior Jodi Ewart was 2-under on her round after birdies at 14 and 16. She made a double bogey 6 on No. 1, then finished with eight pars to finish at even-par 72.

Freshman Bethany Buchner started strong with three straight birdies on holes 13-15, but suffered a triple bogey 6 on the par-3 16th to fall back to even after six holes. She still finished with a career-low 74.

Sophomore Sarah Salvo also carded a 74 while sophomore Erin Miller, competing as an individual, had the low round of her career at 75.

Senior Britney Choy finished with a 77.

Lobos Women's Golf

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